Curriculum

Our Curriculum Statement

At Shade School we aim to provide the children with a curriculum which is broad, well balanced and above all stimulates the children to learn. Through a positive and caring environment, we provide the opportunity for every child to reach their full potential.

We deliver programmes of study that meet the National Curriculum requirements issued by the DfE.

The teaching of Religious Education is statutory in all schools. It is taught as a subject outside the National Curriculum but following the Calderdale and Kirklees Agreed Syllabus

We recognize the importance of English and Maths teaching in order to open up other areas of the curriculum and therefore a large emphasis is placed on these areas. In addition to regular maths and english sessions teachers try to make as many cross curricular links as possible in order to utilize these skills in a range of contexts.

The planning of the curriculum is based around a programme that ensures coverage of selected topics by all children who progress through the school. Planning takes the form of a topic based approach and where appropriate teachers link subjects to provide an engaging and inspiring curriculum.

Whilst the core subjects are taught on a regular basis the foundation subjects may sometimes be taught as blocks of work over a matter of weeks.

This programme is regularly reviewed to ensure compatibility with new directives or to make necessary improvements to the existing programme of work.

At Shade, we seek to create opportunities for children to experience and excel in a range of activities that enhance and extend the National Curriculum. Children have opportunities both inside and outside the classroom eg Forest School Days, Residential trips, gifted and talented workshops, a variety of sporting events, visiting speakers and much more. We also have a range of after school clubs.

We also value the role of modern foreign languages in the curriculum and French is taught throughout KS2. We liaise with our secondary school colleagues and draw upon their expertise and experience to ensure the children get the best quality provision.

When children leave Shade at the end of Year 6, they should be equipped with the full range of skills that enables them to become lifelong learners. As a developing Unicef Right Respecting school, children are equipped with the social skills and understanding to become good citizens in the future.

We believe that the school/parent relationship is key to promoting learning beyond the school gates and crucial in ensuring children make the best possible progress. We pride ourselves on our open, friendly and approachable nature that encourages parents to be involved in their children’s learning.

As part of Shade’s commitment to safeguarding and child protection we fully support the government’s Prevent Strategy, and take guidance from Teaching Approaches to help build resilience to extremism.

What is the Prevent Strategy?

The Prevent strategy is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It:

– responds to the ideological challenge we face from terrorism and aspects of extremism, and the threat we face from those who promote these views – provides practical help to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are given appropriate advice and support – works with a wide range of sectors (including education, criminal justice, faith, charities, online and health)